Meghan’s Hair In The Spotlight

Former US actress, Meghan Markle, better known these days as the Duchess of Sussex, has caused a predictable news bubble with a royal baby expected in the Spring. But it is her hair that was the focus for a couple of the tabloid newspapers…

Our Hair During Pregnancy

Nobody needs to be told that the whole process of pregnancy is a roller-coaster ride. From the very beginning, there is a flood of hormones being released as your body prepares to carry a baby for the next nine months. Many women, Meghan apparently included, get a huge boost to their hair in the early months of pregnancy. This is due to the growth, or anagen, cycle becoming extended at the follicle level… where instead of entering a rest phase and falling out before a new hair emerges, the growth phase is prolonged leading to faster growing, thicker and healthier looking hair. It means that, by the start of the third trimester, the hair will have been growing ever so slightly faster for six months at the same time as there being a significant reduction in the amount of shedding, which should lead to visibly improved hair.

There are some other underlying factors which usually contribute to the improvement. Diet is very much subject to change, with additional calories required. Hopefully, that leads to increased amounts of healthy vitamins and iron as the demands from your body for improved and increased sustenance are hard to ignore. Women in early pregnancy will often make other lifestyle choices for the benefit of their baby, whether that is yoga classes, jogging or simply walking every day… any improvement to your routine will lead to improved physical condition for the whole body, including the hair – that permanent barometer as to the quality of our general health.

Potholes

It is not all good news. There is, for many women, the promise, after all that beautiful hair, a time when there will be a compensatory dip in the quality of our hair. This common problem, called post-partum hair loss, almost invariably clears up on its own, although like many short-term hair loss problems it can seem to take an eternity to recover. For most, 6 months is usually enough though it can drag on for up to a year.

Hair Loss For Women

Our thanks to the Daily Mail for running the original article. And a nod in the direction of the Daily Express who joined in by speculating that Meghan’s recent change in style was related to managing the thicker hair associated with pregnancy.

We would like to offer you the opportunity to discuss your hair loss situation with a friendly, globally recognized, expert. Ranbir is a committed hair professional with years of experience and a well-earned reputation for thought-leadership and innovation in the industry. If you would like to discuss your hair loss situation with an expert, sympathetic and experienced ear, please use the contact form to get in touch.